Ezra Levant
Canadian publisher, journalist, political commentator, and champion of free speech Ezra Levant is this week's featured guest on the Values & Capitalism podcast.
Ezra is the founder and former publisher of the Western Standard, hosts The Source daily on Sun News Network, and has written several books on politics. He is probably best known for the 3-year battle with the Canadian Human Rights Commission over his magazine's publishing of the controversial "Muhammad cartoons" back in 2006. His latest book, The Enemy Within, is out now and deals with the story of a Canadian jihadist who killed a US Army sergeant on the battlefield in Afghanistan.
R.J. chats with Mr. Levant about the state of conservatism north of the border, a Canadian's view of the United States' current economics woes, and what makes Mark Steyn so prolific!
Find all things Levant-related at ezralevant.com, and follow our friend Ezra on Twitter at @ezralevant!
In the second segment, R.J. welcomes MereOrthodoxy.com founder Matthew Anderson to the show for a in-depth discussion (alongside AEI's Eric Teetsel) on Matt's recent column for Relevant Magazine "Why I'm a Christian Republican." Intriguing title, no?
Listen to this new episode of The R.J. Moeller Show by either streaming it below, or subscribe to and download us on your iTunes!
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Victor Davis Hanson & Michael LeGault
Victor Davis Hanson knows history like a high school girl knows texting: intimately. In his second appearance on Values & Capitalism's official podcast - The R.J. Moeller Show - Professor Hanson talks about the important election issues in 2012, the perpetually rising tensions with Iran, and the need young people should feel to read classic works of literature, philosophy, and history.
For those of you who don't know Victor Davis Hanson or his work, he is a military historian, professor of classics, and the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. Hanson is the author of dozens of books, the most recent of which is, The Father of Us All: War and History, Ancient and Modern. You can find his weekly syndicated columns at National Review Online, and follow the good professor on Twitter at @VDHanson.
After bidding adieu to VDH, R.J. chats with journalist Michael LeGault, author of the recently-released book, The Next American Revolution.
LeGault is a former Washington Times columnist and currently is an editor with The Financial Post. He is an award-winning writer based out of Ann Arbor, MI and you can find all things LeGault-related at his personal website, michaellegault.com. R.J. and Michael discuss his journey to becoming a professional writer and then run through some of the key arguments he makes in his new book.
Stream this entertaining episode below, or come find us on iTunes where you can subscribe for free!
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Michael Barone & Brett Kunkle
The year was 1994. I was about 11 years old. My father, as he was wont to do, was watching his favorite weekly news program The McLaughlin Group. As I sat and tried desperately to understand what was being said on the television screen about the 1994 mid-term elections a man named Michael Barone chimed in with an anecdote about Newt Gringrich and former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. I went and looked up Mr. Disraeli in the family encyclopedia and thought to myself, "Who was that smart guy who knew how to bring this dead British politician into a conversation about an American election?"
That man was Michael Barone. He's on my podcast this week. The circle is closed.
This week's episode of The R.J. Moeller show starts with R.J.'s candid interview with AEI Resident Fellow, Michael Barone. Mr. Barone is a political analyst and journalist who studies politics, American government, and campaigns/elections. The principal coauthor of the annual Almanac of American Politics (National Journal Group), he has written many books on American politics and history. Michael is also a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner.
Topics covered include: the electoral college's relevance, the likelihood that the GOP takes back a majority in the U.S. Senate, and what brought a young Michael Barone from idealistic liberal to sober-minded conservative.
In the second segment, R.J. chats with his friend Brett Kunkle, Student Impact Director for the organization Stand to Reason in Los Angeles.
Brett is passionate about seeing students and adults “transformed by the renewing of their minds.” He has more than 18 years of experience working with junior high, high school, and college students. He spent 11 of those years as a pastor to students and young adults at Chino Valley Community Church in Southern California and Creekside Church in Colorado. A dynamic communicator who engages both heart and mind, Brett speaks to thousands of students and adults at churches, conferences, and college campuses across the country.
R.J. talks with Brett about the work STR is doing, and some of the challenges people of faith are confronted with when it comes to equipping young people with the intellectual and rhetorical tools needed to articulate and defend what they believe in the public square. You can follow Brett on twitter at @BrettKunkleSTR!
Stream the episode live below, or find (and subscribe to) us on iTunes!
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Tim King and Eric Teetsel
It's here. It's what you've been waiting for. Joining R.J. and Eric Teetsel on American Enterprise Institute's "Values & Capitalism" podcast this week is our first liberal Democrat!
And who did we bestow this sacred honor upon, you ask? Why, none other than Tim King, Director of Communications for Jim Wallis' Sojourners organization.
A native of New Hampshire, Tim is a graduate of North Park University, a former community organizer (on the South Side of Chicago, no less), and has been with Sojourners since 2008. He frequently posts thought-provoking pieces at God's Politics Blog. Tim is a young man who takes his faith very seriously and has committed his life to affecting real change in matters of poverty and justice. Follow our friend Tim King on Twitter at @tmking.
You are going to enjoy the conversation R.J. moderated between the free-market Teetsel and social-justice King. Topics discussed include: caricatures of the "Religious Right", how Sojourners views a place like AEI (and vice versa), and what common ground can be found among Christians who differ in their views on economic solutions to our nation's current troubles.
The goal was to engage in a serious, thoughtful, and civil dialogue. You can judge for yourself, but as far as the three key players in this exchange were concerned - mission accomplished!
Stream the episode live below, or subscribe and listen for free on your iTunes!
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Troy Senik
Our featured guest on this episode of The R.J. Moeller Show is former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, Troy Senik. Troy is an Editor at Ricochet.com, and prior to his tenure at the White House, he served as a writer for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.
Troy is currently a Senior Fellow at the Center for Individual Freedom and a contributor at City Journal California and the Manhattan Institute's Public Sector Inc. He is also the host of Ricochet's "Law Talk" podcast with Richard Epstein and John Yoo, as well as the "Young Guns" podcast with Meghan Clyne, Diane Ellis, and Keith Urbahn. He splits his time between Los Angeles and Nashville.
Follow Troy on Twitter at @troysenik!
R.J. also chats with Values & Capitalism program manager, Eric Teetsel about a recent commentary from Chuck Colson on the "Should Republican politicians focus on 'social issues' and 'family values'?" debate that seems to arise again every 4 years.
Stream the show below or find the podcast on iTunes!
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Mere Conservatism Goes National (Or At Least Regional)
The next few days (and weeks, really) are personally significant for me, and I wanted to share with you - my readers and friends - a little bit of what is going on in my life and career.
As most of you know, I blog and host a weekly podcast for the American Enterprise Institute's "Values & Capitalism" initiative. It continues to be a distinct honor and privilege to be even loosely affiliated with such an important institution as AEI, and the opportunity to host The RJ Moeller Show podcast is an incredible one.
Friday morning at 10am (Central) I am going to be a guest on the Moody Broadcasting Network's "This Is The Day" show with Nancy Turner, talking about my work for AEI (and Dennis Prager...more on that in a moment). Here is a link to that show, and I'll also be turning my time on the radio into a YouTube clip eventually for those who miss it live. This is my first official appearance on national radio and I'm very much looking forward to it.
The podcast is my baby. I enjoy producing and recording it more than anything else I've ever done in my entire life. I work very hard at it, and hope to turn it (or something that comes from it) into a career. If I was being totally honest with you, and you asked me what I would want to be doing 10 years from right now, the answer is a no-brainer: hosting my own show (podcast or radio) and writing and speaking on current events from a conservative, evangelical perspective.
Well, for my second bit of good news, I'm happy to report that my foot is officially in the radio world's (side) door. Beginning Saturday, January 14th (11am Central), on the Chicago radio station 1530AM, The RJ Moeller Show will be on the air for one hour a week for the foreseeable future. We were approached by the station manager at WWJG this winter and asked if we wanted to run a slightly modified version of the Values & Capitalism podcast each Saturday and, of course, said "Yes!" It's a humble start, but it's a start. The show will be on your radio from 11am-12pm if you live in The Windy City, and anyone else can stream the show live on-line.
All I ask of any reading this is that you either give the show an initial listen, and if you already have (and liked it) - tell a few friends! And I love feedback, of all types, so please feel free to drop me a line and let me know what you think (rj@rjmoeller.com).
Finally, and in less than a month, I will be moving to Los Angeles to continue my full-time work for syndicated talk show host, columnist, author, and guest conductor of orchestras: Dennis Prager. Dennis started Prager University - a website and YouTube channel dedicated to distilling complex issues into informative, palpable 5-minute "courses" - a few years back and my responsibilities include the conception, production and marketing of these fantastic videos.
I honestly don't plan on becoming a West Coast guy for life, and I will miss my family, friends, and the Chicago-land area every day, but there is no doubt in my mind that this is the right thing to do at this time. I'm chomping at the bit to get out there, and praying a situation opens up where Rudy the Dog can follow me out there later this Spring.
I wanted to share all of this with you guys/gals to both say thanks to all those who have supported, encouraged, and endured me since I began A Voice in the Wilderness 5 years ago, but also to (hopefully) inspire others of you out there who are pursuing a dream (or thinking about starting that pursuit in the near future).
Over the past half-decade I have delivered pizzas, painted houses, worked for small businesses, interned at churches, been a youth pastor, been a free-lance writer, helped edit various websites, and been compelled to do a handful of other jobs I'd rather soon forget. Add to that being a part-time graduate student working on my MDiv (which I have only a couple of classes left for, and will be finishing those in L.A. and on-line through my seminary). If at any point along my journey you had asked me for two names that I would ideally like to eventually work for, without hesitation I'd have said "Dennis Prager and Arthur Brooks."
Well, here I am. It can happen.
Doesn't mean it will. And even if it does, that doesn't mean it will last. I may be led back to a position at a church in a few years, or to a company, or to a classroom, or to the mission field, and if so, I'll happily do it. But I feel a calling to write and speak and teach. I feel a calling to engage in public discourse and to attempt to change some hearts and minds for the ideas, ideals, and values I believe in. Ultimately, I feel a calling to honor Christ in all that I do.
So that's all for now. Thanks for indulging me. The website here will continue on, business as usual so please keep reading!
God bless and godspeed!
-RJM
Claire Berlinski
If you want to know about the life and legacy of Margaret Thatcher, if you want to know about life in Istanbul, if you want to be endlessly entertained by a keen mind and sharp wit, then you book Claire Berlinski for your podcast.
The R.J. Moeller Show was lucky enough to land an interview with the international woman of mystery for this, the latest episode of Values & Capitalism.com's official podcast. Ms. Berlinski is a journalist, novelist, author, editor at both City Journal and Ricochet.com, and all-around fascinating personality. Her 2008 book, There Is No Alternative: Why Margaret Thatcher Matters, is now out in paperback and the bulk of our lively conversation with Claire focuses on this excellent treatment of the life-and-times of "The Iron Lady."
You can follow Claire on Twitter and "Friend" her on Facebook.
In the second segment, R.J. catches up with Values&Capitalism contributor Joseph Sunde. The two talk about the volatility of the job market in a free market economy - something Joseph experienced first-hand recently, and then spend some time parsing Mark Steyn's recent column "Even Christians Taking Christ Out of Christmas."
Mr. Sunde runs his own website (RemnantCulture.com) and you can follow him on Twitter (@josephsunde)!
Stream the episode below, or do yourself a favor and subscribe (for free) to The R.J. Moeller Show on your iTunes!
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Steven Hayward
The R.J. Moeller Show is proud to present a candid conversation with AEI scholar and Regan historian Steven F. Hayward.
Hayward writes on a wide range of public policy issues. He is the author of the Almanac of Environmental Trends, and the author of many books on environmental topics. He has written biographies of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Winston Churchill, as well as a new publication from Values & Capitalism, Mere Environmentalism. Mr. Hayward is also a senior fellow at the Pacific Research Institute. He contributes to AEI's Energy and Environment Outlook series.
You can find all things Steven Hayward here, including articles, columns, and blog-posts.
Stream the episode below, or find us on your iTunes!
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The Gang Tackles ‘Rights’
The latest episode of The R.J. Moeller Show podcast opens with a quick review of R.J.'s viewing of the 50th Anniversary Edition of Ben-Hur on the big screen. The classic film was re-mastered and re-released this December and shown in select theaters around the country.
There were plenty of news stories to discuss, and The Gang offers up their thoughts on the following headlines:
- Crazy man in L.A. shoots at strangers due to "bad breakup"
- Wall Street Journal weighs in on Tebow-mania
- North Korea threatens retaliation over Christmas lights
In the second segment, R.J. analyzes Sec. of State Hillary Clinton's recent speech at an International Human Rights Day conference in which Clinton made the outrageous claim that "religious objections" to homosexuality shouldn't enter into any political discussions around the globe. The source of "natural rights" is considered.
R.J. also recounts some contentious Facebook discussions he engaged in with liberal Christians after posting the Clinton video earlier in the week.
The gang is back and in rare form!
You can stream the episode below, or find The R.J. Moeller Show on your iTunes!
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Ken Green and Eric Teetsel
The newest episode of The RJ Moeller Show welcomes American Enterprise Institute's Kenneth P. Green to the podcast for an in-depth interview and features a lively conversation with Values and Capitalism's own, Eric Teetsel.
An environmental scientist by training, Ken Green focuses on policy and regulations 
involving energy and environmental health. He is a prolific writer of policy studies and articles, blogs regularly at AEI’s Enterprise Blog, and is a monthly contributor to AEI’s web magazine, The American. Ken speaks frequently to the public and in the media, and has testified before regulatory and legislative bodies at local, state, and federal levels. He is also the author of a recent book entitled Abundant Engergy, in which Green provides a brief history of our reliance on different sources of energy, explores the viability of both current and potential future sources, and offers a vision for the task of fueling human prosperity in the 21st century.
You can follow Ken on Twitter at @KennethPGreen.
During our time with Eric Teetsel, this 1992 Wall Street Journal Op-Ed from the pen of former Senator George McGover (D-SD) is dissected and discussed. The liberal Democrat who ran for president against Richard Nixon in 1972 started his own small business after leaving Congress and learned just how cumbersome many of the tax and regulatory policies he had supported while in office truly were to the American entrepreneur.
Stream this episode below, or find us on your iTunes!
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